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Bali, Indonesia, 25 November 2011 – Six children aged 10 to 14 years old flew from their mountain homes in the Kingdom of Bhutan to the tropical island of Bali, Indonesia to participate at the 23rd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP-23). These young musical ambassadors sang at the Reception Dinner hosted by the Indonesian Government yesterday evening.Read more...

This side event provided information and case studies of illegal HCFC trade from both the public and private sector perspective, presented an assessment of the risks of smuggling under different scenarios as the HCFC phase-out progresses and considered the actions needed to combat smuggling of HCFCs. The event was intended to increase awareness of the issue of illegal trade in and help build capacity to assist developing countries to act against potential HCFC smuggling now and in the future.

World famous Chinese artist and UNEP Patron for Arts and the Environment, Mr. Yuan Xikun is working on a giant sculpture of the Ancient Chinese Goddess Nuva from rock from five continents of the world and water from the two Arctic poles. This image of the Chinese Goddess has been used as a symbol for China’s ozone layer protection efforts. The announcement was made during his visit to Maldives from October 16 to 20, 2011 at the invitation of the Country’s President H. E. Mohamed Nasheed. The sculpture he plans to create will feature a woman carrying a rectangle block in her outstretched arms. According to ancient Chinese myth, Nuva is a goddess who smelted a seven-color stone to block a hole in the sky. Mr. Yuan will present this giant sculpture as his donation and support to UNEP during the HPMP Launch of China on 19-20 December 2011.

Today during OzonAction Side Event Mr. Yuan Xikun received rock and water from all over the world to help him achieve his project. Visit OzonAction Facebook for more info.

I would like to thank Prof. Yuan Xikun, UNEP Patron for the Arts and Environment, and welcome his continued commitment to using art to raise awareness about the environment – on this occasion specifically on the ozone layer and climate change. The more than 20 year-old international effort under the auspices of the Montreal Protocol to save the ozone layer ranks among the most successful examples of cooperation and collaboration among nations — the original chemicals, known as CFCs, were phased-out globally in 2010.

Further cooperative action between the Montreal Protocol and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change may be the key to fast action, assisting to maintain momentum on recovering the ozone layer while simultaneously reducing risks of accelerated climate change. Prof. Yuan will create a sculpture of the Chinese myth of Nüwa, a goddess who smelted a seven-color stone to block a hole in the sky. Using stones from the continents of the world and water from the polar regions, Prof. Yuan’s work of art will highlight the urgent need to protect the ozone layer and to combat climate change.

I am today recognizing the important contribution that individuals can make – through for example the works of art created by Prof. Yuan – to raise awareness of the urgent need to safeguard the environment. I would like to convey my best wishes to Prof. Yuan for this important project.

The Maldives Story: at the forefront of ozone layer protection and achieving carbon neutrality was one of OzonAction's side event today. Maldives took the occasion to share its ozone story.

Indeed the country’s HPMP was the first to be approved. The panelists explained how the government was able to pledge the total phase-out of HCFCs 10 years ahead of the Montreal Protocol deadline and how their ODS programs are linked with the country’s carbon neutrality policy. The event provided the lessons learned about how other Low Volume Consuming (LVC) countries can benefit from the exemplary achievements of Maldives.

OzonAction Info Team took the opportunity to tackle the issue of the Arctic ozone loss during the Antarctic Ozone Hole Side Event today.

Indeed, Professor Jonathan Pyle from University Cambridge delivered a presentation on the Arctic Ozone Loss. About 20km (13 miles) above the ground, 80% of the ozone was lost in 2011. The cause was an unusually long spell of cold weather at altitude. In cold conditions, the chlorine chemicals that destroy ozone are at their most active.

Earlier today, Ms Laura Beron from Argentina delivered a presentation on: "Argentina and the study of the ozone hole in Antarctica" during the Antarctic Ozone Hole Side Event.

Ms. Laura Beron is the Coordinator of the National Ozone Unit of Argentina since 2001. She has an university degree in chemestry and a diploma with distinction in Environmental Science and Technology of Delft University, Netherlands.

Today, UNEP OzonAction had a side event on the Antarctic Ozone Hole. The side event provided information on the status of the ozone hole. A screening of the short documentary: The Antarctic Ozone Hole: From Discovery to Recovery, has been held. The short documentary examined the current state of the ozone layer, the effects of ozone depletion on climate change and the potential impact on communities worldwide. After the projection, Paul Newman of NASA stressed on the interlinkages between Ozone and Climate Change, Professor John Pyle of Cambridge University explained the recent developments in the Arctic. Dr Michal Janouch of Czech Republic also talked about Monitoring the Ozone Layer and UV-radiation in Antarctica.

Keeping a global, 21st century temperature rise under 2 degrees Celsius will require urgent action on a group of chemicals increasingly being used in products such as air conditioners, refrigerators, firefighting equipment and insulation foams. The chemicals, collectively known as Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are becoming popular as replacements for those phased-out or being phased-out to protect the ozone layer—the Earth's high flying shield that filters out dangerous levels of the sun's ultra violet rays. But a report launched today by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) projects that by 2050 HFCs could be responsible for emissions equivalent to 3.5 to 8.8 Gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide (Gt CO2eq) - comparable to total current annual emissions from transport, estimated at around 6-7 Gt annually. HFCs are, along with CO2, methane and other gases, controlled under the UN's Framework Convention for Combating Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol. Measures to protect the ozone layer are carried out under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. "Cooperative action between these treaties may be the key to fast action on HFCs, assisting to maintain momentum on recovering the ozone layer while simultaneously reducing risks of accelerated climate change," said Mr Steiner.

The new report HFCs: A Critical Link in Protecting Climate and the Ozone Layer was launched today in Bali, Indonesia, at the 23rd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. To learn more on the report, click here.

UNEP OzonAction will facilitate 6 side events during MOP 23. First one will start on wednesday, 23 November 2011 from 1.15 PM to 2.15 PM on the Antarctic Ozone Hole.

A screening of the short documentary: From Discovery to Recovery, the Antarctic Ozone Hole will be held and a discussion will follow with Dr. Paul A Newman from NASA and Professor Jonathan Pyle from the University of Cambridge.

UNEP OzonAction Booth is now open at the Ozone Exhibition at BNDCC. Come and discover OzonAction latest publications including the new OzonAction Special Issue 2011: Tipping the Balance Towards Climate Protection through the HCFC Phase-out.

The 9th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP9) to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer 23rd Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP23) will open tomorrow in Bali, Indonesia,.

The meeting will take place from 21 to 24 November 2011. Visit OzonAction Facebook Page for daily reports.